There's a simple but remarkable response our taste buds give to dishes where cheese, tomato, and dough subtly caress in a warm blend. Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is one such comfort food that strikes the perfect balance with its soft, pillow-like gnocchi, sauce bursting with garlic and basil flavors, and a generous sprinkling of cheese.

The trick to achieving gourmet-grade Gnocchi alla Sorrentina lies in the quality of the components used. With just a handful of ingredients, securing top-notch tomato sauce and the choicest gnocchi - be it store-bought or homemade - makes a lot of difference. Add in a chunk of crusty bread and a salad dressed in vinaigrette, and you've got yourself a delightful weeknight feast.

So, what makes the Sorrentina sauce so special? It's a rapidly cooked tomato concoction boasting fresh mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil. The credits for this masterpiece go back to a 16th-century chef from the southern Italian city of Sorrento, who paired potatoes and tomatoes to birth this dish. Gnocchi, soft and chewy dumplings made from potatoes, wheat, eggs, and/ or ricotta, offer a perfect base for the flavorful sauce. Although these can be made and stored frozen, many grocery stores provide shelf-stable and refrigerated versions as well.

For a maximum cheese-pull, it is recommended to use fresh mozzarella in water as opposed to shredded mozzarella. Once prepared, any leftover Gnocchi alla Sorrentina can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and subsequently, reheated with a few added spoonfuls of water to loosen the sauce.

While a perfect Gnocchi alla Sorrentina requires several nuanced steps, here's the basic breakdown: Preheating an oven to 425°F, with the rack on the top third position, is the first step. In a large oven-proof skillet, heat some olive oil and add garlic, stirring continuously until golden brown. To this, add tomato sauce, water, basil, and salt, before bringing it to a gentle simmer. Cover and let it cook for ten minutes. Next, stir in the gnocchi until the sauce fully coats them. Mix in some of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Top it off with the remaining cheese, and bake in the preheated oven. After the cheese melts and forms a golden brown edge, allow it to rest for around 5 minutes. Garnishing with additional basil, this dish is now ready to serve, carrying the warmth and comfort of an Italian home in every bite.